Press releases

MINSK, 10 September (BelTA) – Belarus will take part in the 5^th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art. A special Belarusian project by sculptor Konstantin Selikhanov and photographer Andrei Shchukin “Decoding. Archetype of Adequate Time” will be presented at the main autumn art event in the Russian capital, Curator of the project, Director of the Museum of Modern Fine Art Natalia Sharangovich told a press conference, BelTA has learnt.

The project consists of several conceptually related mini-projects of the two artists. The artworks represent frozen moments of the reality. It is an attempt to freeze time and turn it from a state of motion into another dimension through the transformation of plane into volume.

The main theme of the 5^th biennale is space and time. All the artworks featured at the international forum will be aimed at decoding the social and public context of these philosophic concepts. The Belarusian masters study the announced theme through sculptures, installations, photography, video and texts. The decoding theme has in its basis the reflection on communication in the society, self-definition in the metropolis, preservation of individuality in the modern world.

In order to participate in the Moscow biennale, Belarus has decided not to partake in one of the world’s renowned art forums – Venice biennale. “We take the forum very seriously and have decided that it is important to take part in such a forum. It will be an interesting project demonstrating contemporary art of our country,” First Deputy Culture Minister of Belarus Vladimir Karachevsky said.

Special projects for this year's forum have been selected through competition. The works were confirmed by curator of the Main Project, Director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent Catherine de Zegher as well as representatives of the Moscow biennale. “It will enhance the level and prestige of the event,” Natalia Sharangovich said.

The Belarusian project will be on show in two halls of the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia with the total area of 200 square meters from 24 September to 19 October. New works will be presented by Konstantin Selikhanov and Andrei Shchukin. Following the forum, “Decoding. Archetype of Adequate Time” will be displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Minsk.

The project is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art in cooperation with the Culture Ministry and the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. The general sponsor of the event is OAO Priorbank. A total of Br550 million has been allocated for the participation in the international forum.

Belarus will take part in the Moscow biennale for its second time. In 2011 the special project, Internal Landscapes, organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art, was displayed at the All-Russian Museum of decorative and Folk Arts and comprised installations, glass, texts and photography.

The Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art is one of biggest forums of actual art among professionals and general public thanks to cooperation with leading international curators, artists, critics, theorists and philosophers. The exhibition is held in the Russian capital once in two years. The first expo was held in 2005.

This year the festival of contemporary art will be held from 20 September to 20 October. The program of the 5^th biennale consists of the Main Project “More Light” (over 80 artists from various countries) and 50 special projects.